Philosophy gives you a broader understanding of the human experience. The ability to think critically, to structure arguments clearly, it’s super helpful for anyone doing any kind of academic study.
Annelisa Smit
Sociology and Philosophy
Why did you start studying Philosophy?
Well, after my first year of Sociology, I was already reading philosophy books as a hobby, so I figured it would be a good extension of my main field, and I was right. It really helps to have that broader context for many of the concepts we use in Sociology, which are often just taken for granted without much explanation.
Do you think there's a special relationship between Sociology and Philosophy?
Yeah, I think so. Sometimes I feel like they’re just a step away from being the same thing. Both fields try to generalize human experience, though Philosophy might go a bit broader by sometimes stepping outside the human perspective altogether. But they definitely share that aim of trying to understand and generalize how we experience the world, and you can see that in the number of shared thinkers and theories.
A tricky question: What do you think philosophy is?
You've probably heard this a lot, but that’s a difficult question. I think philosophy is mostly about critically thinking through assumptions, concepts, beliefs and arguments. Some might say it’s about finding the truth behind those things, but for me, it’s more about making concepts practical and relevant. So I’d say defining useful concepts and challenging definitions that don’t serve us well is one of the biggest parts of Philosophy.
I took a course on Eco-Philosophy last year, and this year I'm taking a course called Planetary Sociology. There’s a lot of overlap between them, both deal with the concept of the Anthropocene. They critically explore what assumptions are built into that concept and what might be left out when we use it to talk about climate change. For example, does the concept of the Anthropocene really capture what’s going on, or are there better, more inclusive ways to describe our current ecological situation? That kind of questioning is relevant in both Philosophy and Sociology.
Why should(n’t) you study philosophy?
If you're someone who really enjoys clear-cut answers and being “right” all the time, then philosophy might not be for you. It's full of ambiguity and nuance, and some people might struggle with that. Also, if you don’t like reading or writing, especially open essay exams, then it might not be the right choice. It really helps if you enjoy critical thinking and have a passion for language.
The reverse is also true! Studying Philosophy gives you a much broader understanding of the world and human experience. I always say it really “buffs up your conceptual arsenal,” because it’s the mother of all sciences. The ability to think critically, to structure arguments clearly, it’s super helpful for anyone doing any kind of academic study.
Is there a philosopher or idea that’s resonating with you at the moment?
Right now, I’m really into Cornel West. I’d recommend anyone check out a lecture of his on YouTube. Just hearing him talk, it’s insane how someone can be that eclectic and still so coherent. He references a different thinker or idea every three sentences, and it’s obvious that he knows what he’s talking about. He’s just a very inspiring and engaging thinker.